Legal Senior Analyst

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles:

Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs. 

Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

The objective of PharmaMX is to support the Government of Mexico in its effort to guarantee the right to health to the largest number of inhabitants through the planning and management of the consolidated purchase of medicines (period 2021-2024), as well as assistance in the profiling of the system and model of consolidated purchase of medicines for the health sector of the Government of Mexico.
This position will be for the duration of PharmaMX project.
It will be based in Mexico City, Mexico or Panama City, Panama (depending on the incumbent's preference and business needs).

The Legal Analyst will be part of the IPAS legal team and based in Mexico City, Mexico or Panama City, Panama. The legal team provides advice and support to all field offices and headquarters on corporate and institutional legal matters arising in UNOPS. The incumbent will primarily be supporting UNOPS projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Responsibilities include advising on issues related to procurement, as well as reviewing legal agreements including those for grant support, leases, works and infrastructure, goods and/or services, and any other agreements to disburse and receive funds. The team also provides the field offices with capacity building and training, as well as assists in the review of internal policies and procedures.

Under the overall guidance of the IPAS Legal Team Lead and under the direct supervision of the IPAS Legal Specialist for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, the incumbent shall: 

Support to implementation

• Review contracts and agreements with suppliers, contractors, clients, donors and other partners, with a focus on procurement-related matters and advise on the appropriateness and acceptability of special conditions;

• Collaborate with colleagues to develop workable solutions to implementation challenges in line with UNOPS’ rules and regulations;

• Advise on the development and implementation of policies and the correct use of authority by UNOPS personnel;

• Provide quality input and advice on legal aspects of project proposals;

• Research specific legal issues on major databases.

Business Efficiency

• Support the implementation of UNOPS standards; 

• Supports the coordination of audit responses and follow-up on implementation of audit recommendations;

• Ensure that the needs and priorities of field offices, as well as any continuing implementation challenges are communicated to the appropriate policy units for action and follow up;

• Contribute to the enhancement and understanding of policies within UNOPS. 

Knowledge Management

• Actively contribute to global knowledge by maintaining knowledge systems and sharing information and knowledge across the organisation in line with UNOPS Knowledge Management Strategy;

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of corporate systems and tools;

• Maintain records of decisions made and actions taken.

Other related duties as requested.

Education:

• A university degree from an accredited educational institution in law is required.

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in international law, or a closely related area is required.  

• Candidate must be qualified to practice law. 

Experience:

• Minimum two years of post-graduate experience analysing legal issues and conducting legal research, preferably with an international organization or legal office is required;

• Experience in the application of regulations and rules, policies, procedure and decision-making processes of an international organization; 

• Experience in procurement and the negotiation of commercial contracts is an advantage;

• Demonstrated theoretical knowledge of international law, in particular lex mercatoria and the application of legal principles, concepts and policies to the review, examination and processing of a range of legal issues and documents; sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential material; 

• Proficiency in legal drafting and ability to draft accurately, clearly and concisely under time pressure;

• Demonstrated experience in communicating complex legal concepts across a range of audiences;  

• Demonstrated field experience in a development context is an advantage.

Language requirements: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is required.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: I-ICA1
Contract duration: open-ended, subject to satisfactory performance and the duration of the PharmaMX project.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.